Tillman talks Terrebonne, reflects on vital three terms
September 6, 2011Thursday, Sept. 8
September 8, 2011
State Rep. Damon Baldone (D-Houma) has withdrawn from the state senate race in which he intended to face incumbent state Sen. Norby Chabert (R-Houma) for the District 20 seat.
Baldone has served three consecutive terms and 10 1/2 years in the state legislature for District 53 and termed-out of that position this session.
A lawyer and businessman by profession, Baldone, 46, said he wants to concentrate more on his business interests and personal life, but would not dismiss a possible return to politics.
“I really want to get back and concentrate on my businesses,” Baldone said. “I’ve given more than a decade to public service and it really takes a toll on you economically.”
Baldone’s business interests include offshore operations, communications and real estate. “They all suffer,” he said. “The state legislature is a full-time job and I know I had about 20 hours a week to concentrate on my businesses.”
As a Democrat, Baldone admitted that the political climate is difficult for those in his party, but denied the suggestion that having that designation strongly prompted his decision to leave the state senate race.
“It is very difficult to run as a Democrat,” Baldone said. “Washington politics really has come into Louisiana and people are not looking at the person like they use to. A lot of the public is looking at the party because they have a bad taste in their mouth about Washington politics.”
Baldone identified himself as a conservative Democrat and said he is considered more conservative than Chabert, who switched party affiliation to become a Republican within the past year.
“I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge in the state legislature,” Baldone said. “More than I gained in college and law school. You can’t beat the hands-on experience. I’ve learned the ins and outs of the process. That’s the bad thing about term limits. When you get to the top of your game you have to get out.”
Baldone contends that the working of state government is better than it was a decade ago. “Ten years ago, Morganza to the Gulf wasn’t on anybody’s radar,” he said. “That is a big part of our lives. The same thing with coastal restoration. It wasn’t on radar screens, but it is now.”
Partisan politics is the downfall of government, according to Baldone. “Another small reason I am not running because there are these groups like [Gov. Bobby] Jindal and [Sen. David] Vitter that are raising money just to get involved in legislative races. That’s sad to me because of separation of powers. They are trying to get in these legislative races just to control the legislature. I can’t compete with people putting half a million dollars behind a candidate. They want to control the legislature. I’m with the governor when he is right for our area, but when he is not right for our area, I am against the governor. I stand by what I did was right for Terrebonne and Lafourche [parishes].”
“I’m very thankful for the service that Damon Baldone has given to Terrebonne Parish,” Chabert said. “He has been a really good public servant and I will always be thankful for that.”
“I could come back in four years, or eight or 12 years,” Baldone said. “I do intend to come back to public service.”
